First Missionaries & First Aboriginal ChristiansPrint Page 
The cross commemorates the sacrifice of the first missionaries and the first Aboriginal Christians. It also marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Hermannsburg Mission on the 8th of June, 1877.
Hermannsburg was established as an Aboriginal mission in 1877 by two Lutheran missionaries of the Hermannsburg Mission from Germany, who had travelled overland from Bethany in the Barossa Valley in South Australia. They named their new mission among the Aranda people after Hermannsburg in Germany where they had trained.
In 1891, the missionaries left, but the settlement was continued by lay workers until, in 1894, Pastor Carl Strehlow arrived. Pastor Strehlow learnt and documented the Aranda language, and was involved with local people in Bible translation and hymn writing. The language became known as Arrarnta in 1980.
The mission land was handed over to traditional ownership in 1982. The Hermannsburg Historic Precinct was included on the Australian National Heritage List in April 2006. Much of the historic township is now protected by the National Trust.
Location
| Address: | Raberaba Circuit, Hill overlooking sports ground, Hermannsburg, 0872 |
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| State: | NT |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -23.943983 Long: 132.779524 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Cross |
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| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Religion |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 08-June-1877 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 08-June-1967 |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | 1967 |
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This memorial to the sacrifice of the first Missionaries and the first Aboriginal Christians marks the 90th anniversary of the Mission`s founding on June 8, 1877.
"Your sins are forgiven." Matthew, 9.2.
